Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

Hong Siyu widened her eyes, "What I was trying to say just now was 'It is only natural for magical girls of different generations to help each other', but what are you talking about, senior? I completely don't understand."

"...Is that so."

"What's with that bland reaction? I seized the opportunity to turn the tables on you, at least give me some feedback?"

"No, you are right."

As Lin Yun walked along the corridor beside her, he said, "Helping each other is only natural, I apologize."

"Ah, here it comes again, getting all serious all of a sudden! Even though..."

Hong Siyu began to complain with some dissatisfaction, but she suddenly paused mid-sentence.

Her gaze moved from over Lin Yun's shoulder to something behind him, as if she saw something, and inexplicably pursed her lips.

"What's the matter?"

Lin Yun turned his head to follow her gaze but could only see the empty hallway and the black garbage bags placed beside the public trash can.

"Hmm... no, it's nothing."

Hong Siyu's eyes were a bit glazed, but after a moment, she returned to her usual expression and laughed carelessly, "Just felt like I needed to sneeze suddenly, but I managed to hold it back."

"...Don't make it look so scary over something like that."

Lin Yun drooped his eyelids and said, "And is there a need to hold it back? It's not that embarrassing."

"For a woman, it is embarrassing and damaging to one's image," Hong Siyu shook her finger, "Senior, you need to be careful. Always making such comments to eligible females, you're not going to find a stepmother for Lulu like that."

"I'm getting on in years; I don't need that ability anymore."

Lin Yun said indifferently, "I don't have such thoughts, and Lulu doesn't seem to like it either, things are fine as they are now."
Explore hidden tales at empire

"Just staying single?" Hong Siyu tilted her head.

"What else?" Lin Yun said, puzzled.

"No, I mean... ah, forget it, this is fine too."

After a brief pause, Hong Siyu let out a sigh of relief, "Let it be then, staying single isn't bad, after all, I'm single too."

"Then go get married," Lin Yun glanced at her, "Economically, there's a retirement subsidy for magical girls, socially, there's work at the Abnormal Strategy Bureau, and you could be considered a beauty. Could you really not find anyone if you tried?"

All he received was silence.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you think... I qualify as a beauty?"

"Is that strange? I'm not inclined to deny the objectively existing facts."

"It is strange! I feel like you've never seen me as a member of the opposite sex!"

"..."

"Why aren't you speaking now, senior?"

"I'm thinking about how to phrase it in a less hurtful way."

"The fact that you're thinking about it is hurtful enough!"

"Then I apologize, exactly as you say."

"Huh? Beware, I might just start crying and complaining about a scumbag in the hallway now!"

"What are you, a con artist out of nowhere?"

"A scammer would want your money, I'm free, wanna try?"

"Stop making such tasteless jokes."

With a helpless sigh, after seeing Hong Siyu to the elevator door, Lin Yun suddenly asked, "Are you sure you want to go? I actually suggest you stay."

"Huh? What do you mean, senior, you want me to stay over?" Hong Siyu covered her mouth.

"It's just that I'm a bit worried, it might not be very safe later on."

"Not very safe? Why?"

"Remember the unknown phone number I told you about?"

Lin Yun glanced back to make sure no one else was around, lowered his voice, and said emotionlessly, "I received another call this afternoon."

"Strange phone calls... ah, that one? Really?"

Hong Siyu's eyes widened with surprise, "Did the person on the other end tell you that something dangerous could happen again?"

"Correct."

Lin Yun spoke with a somewhat serious tone, "Almost exactly like last time."

"Do you mean, the incident at the wetland park?"

"Yes."

Lin Yun nodded, "So I'll have to trouble you to inform the Abnormal Strategy Bureau, and it might be best if you stayed..."

Ding—

The sound of the elevator interrupted his advice. The apartment building's elevator stopped in front of them and slowly opened its doors.

Both of them standing at the elevator door fell silent for a moment, neither one speaking.

"...Well then, I'm going."

In the end, it was Hong Siyu who broke the silence first, stepping into the elevator and waving back at him, "I'm aware of what you said."

"Are you sure?"

Lin Yun furrowed his brow, "In case you encounter any dangerous Remnant Beasts on the way..."

"It's alright."

The elevator doors began to close, and Hong Siyu shook her head, then lifted her eyes to look at Lin Yun, "After all, no matter what kind of Remnant Beasts I encounter, you can take care of them, right, senior?"

"I will do my best." Standing in the hallway, Lin Yun nodded.

"Is that so, then I'm relieved."

Hong Siyu let out a slight sigh of relief, a smile on her face as she looked at him, her voice growing softer:

——"I'll leave it to you, senior."

Her voice carried out of the elevator, finally cut off in the hallway with a "bang" as the doors closed shut.

Lin Yun stood in the deserted corridor, watching the closed elevator doors, deep in thought.

He wasn't a fool; in fact, he was acutely aware of what Hong Siyu was thinking. But those thoughts were somewhat inappropriate for the two of them at the moment.

Let alone the fact that he didn't harbor corresponding feelings, even if he did, there were too many insurmountable real-world issues between them.

Hong Siyu was clearly aware of these as well, so even though she teased him incessantly, she never made her feelings explicit.

In fact, this was an unspoken understanding between them.

Their relationship was that of former companions, of a magical girl senior and junior, and it was best, it could only be that way.